The role of technology in enhancing intersectoral action for health
Author: Dr Vaishnavi Naik1, Dr Edlin Glane Mathias1
1. Centre for Evidence-informed Decision-making, Prasanna School of Public Health, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
Intersectoral Action
In the modern world, addressing health concerns requires the integration of technology with a cooperative strategy encompassing education, housing, transportation, and public policy. Intersectoral action is increasingly recognized as essential for tackling the complex and multifaceted nature of public health issues. Health technology fosters collaboration between different sectors by enhancing information exchange, strengthening communication, and enabling targeted interventions. To ensure sustainable, evidence-informed multi/intersectoral action—particularly during periods of crisis—adapting technology in health care is of utmost eminence. This blog will explore the lessons that health technology can teach us about intersectoral action and its important role in advancing public health.
Intersectoral action is the cooperative effort of several sectors to tackle factors that influence health and enhance health results. The World Health Organization (WHO 2017) stresses that the health sector alone cannot promote health; successful interventions require collaboration between other sectors to address the wide range of social issues that affect health.
The significance of health technology
Health technology comprises a wide range of instruments, such as electronic health records, telemedicine, mobile health apps, artificial intelligence, and data analytics platforms. These technologies not only improve the delivery of health care but also foster collaboration among different sectors.
Here are a few points on the importance of health technology in intersectoral action:
1. Integration and dissemination of data
By integrating health data with socioeconomic data, education data, and environmental factors, stakeholders can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the underlying issues contributing to health disparities. The use of Health Information Exchanges allows the exchange of patient information between different health care entities and community resources, resulting in a more comprehensive understanding of health status and requirements (Menachemi et al. 2018). This method, which relies on data, promotes collaborations between different sectors, with the specific goal of tackling recognized health concerns.
2. Improved communication
Health technology facilitates intersectoral communication through the use of telehealth platforms, secure messaging systems, and collaborative software. Telehealth services facilitate the collaboration between health care doctors and education professionals to ensure coordinated care for students with chronic diseases (Poitras et al. 2023).
3. Real-time monitoring and response
Advanced health technologies enable the continuous monitoring and surveillance of health data in real time, which is essential for prompt responses to public health emergencies. Furthermore, public health professionals, schools, and community organizations can employ disease outbreak tracking software to effectively coordinate prompt interventions. Amidst the COVID-19 epidemic, technology played a crucial role in monitoring illnesses and enabling communication among health agencies, local governments, and the general public (Paltiel, Zheng, & Zheng, 2020). Intersectoral action demonstrates the efficacy of a coordinated approach in expediting and enhancing responses to health emergencies.
4. Targeted interventions
Health technology uses data analytics to precisely identify at-risk groups by analyzing trends and patterns. This allows different sectors to develop targeted interventions tailored to the specific needs of communities (Kasoju et al. 2023). For instance, a health data platform can pinpoint regions with elevated rates of asthma caused by environmental variables. Subsequently, schools, local governments, and health care providers can work together to execute specific interventions, such as enhancing air quality or delivering educational resources to families on asthma management (Wang et al. 2023). By adopting cleaner and more sustainable technologies, we can mitigate health risks associated with environmental factors such as air pollution and water contamination. The Meikirch Model of Health presents health as an emergent property resulting from complex interactions between individual, social, and environmental determinants. This model underscores the need for a holistic approach, where health technology not only improves individual health outcomes but also supports broader environmental sustainability (Bircher & Kuruvilla 2014).
5. A focus on social determinants of health
Health technology has focused attention on social determinants of health, which encompass the circumstances in which individuals are born, develop, reside, labor, and age. By highlighting these elements, it promotes a holistic approach to health that includes education, housing, and economic stability. For instance, projects that employ Geographic Information System mapping technology to for developing policies and programs that enhance transportation and service accessibility (Nicholson et al. 2023). Social determinants of health are shaped by the distribution of resources, power, and money, significantly influencing individual well-being and health disparities. Health technology can play a vital role in addressing these determinants by improving access to health care services, enhancing education about health, and providing tools for better management of lifestyle-related diseases. By integrating health technology into intersectoral actions, stakeholders can create safer environments, promote the availability of nutritious food, and foster supportive communities. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17 emphasizes strengthening global partnerships and multi-stakeholder collaboration to mobilize resources and expertise, particularly in developing countries, to achieve the SDGs (United Nations, n.d.).
6. Efficient allocation and use of resources
Health technology offers valuable information about the allocation and use of resources. Through the use of predictive analytics, stakeholders can efficiently allocate resources across many sectors, ensuring that financing and services are effectively delivered to the communities that require them the most. The use of data to identify people who are not receiving adequate services can help public health authorities focus their outreach and services more effectively, thus optimizing their impact (Dawkins et al. 2021).
7. Involvement and empowerment of the community
Engagement is crucial for the success of intersectoral projects. Health technologies support this by providing communities with easily accessible information and resources. Mobile health applications, such as those found on smartphones, can assist people to monitor their health measurements and establish connections with nearby support services. When communities are well-informed and engaged, they can actively participate in health activities, fostering collaboration among local authorities, health providers, and community organizations (Haldane et al. 2019).
8. Assessment and critique
Ongoing assessment is crucial for improving collaboration between different sectors. Health technology facilitates rigorous monitoring and assessment procedures to evaluate the efficacy of efforts. Platforms that gather and evaluate input from stakeholders provide adaptive management, ensuring that programs stay relevant and efficient in tackling health concerns (Mumtaz et al. 2023). This iterative process fosters collaboration and motivates stakeholders to collectively enhance their initiatives.
9. Development of cutting-edge solutions
Integrating technology into public health programs fosters innovation, resulting in novel ideas and solutions for health concerns. Collaborations between technology firms and public health institutions have resulted in the creation of cutting-edge tools, such as analytic models that predict the spread of infectious diseases (Harish et al., 2022). These alliances leverage the skills of different industries to develop comprehensive solutions.
10. Policy progression
Health technology data and insights can be used to inform policymakers, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between different sectors. When policymakers have evidence of the efficacy of integrated approaches, they are more inclined to endorse efforts that promote collaboration among different sectors (de Matos et al., 2024). For instance, implementing policies that encourage cooperation between health care and educational institutions might improve students’ health and academic performance, thereby benefiting society at large. Policymakers can effectively integrate health technology into intersectoral collaborations by establishing clear theories of change and frameworks that clarify the roles of different stakeholders. Leveraging evidence from successful initiatives, such as the UK Prevention Research Partnerships, can create collaborations that merge policy, practice, community, and research (Such, Smith, Woods & Meier 2022)
In conclusion
The insights gained from health technology advance health and well-being through intersectoral collaboration. Health technology catalyzes collaborative efforts to tackle complex public health concerns by integrating data, enhancing communication, monitoring in real-time, implementing targeted interventions, and engaging with the community.
In our ever more interconnected society, adopting intersectoral action through health technology will improve health outcomes for both individuals and communities. With cooperation and ingenuity, we can construct a more robust society that benefits all individuals' well-being.
References
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To link to this article - DOI: https://doi.org/10.70253/JIRI9776
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